The Nintendo Entertainment System is one of the great success stories in video game history. To better explain the story of this console, we first have to talk about some of the history of videogames before the console was even started...

In the late seventies and early eighties, American giant Atari dominated the worldwide home video game market, with a number of other developers trying to compete but falling short. However, between 1982 and 1984, the American videogame market crashed and paved way for a new wave of consoles & manufacturers. The crash was due a number of key events which effected each of the existing video game companies at that time.

Consumer confidence in Atari had fallen after a number of highly anticipated releases failed to impress. The 2600 version of Pacman looked nothing like Namco's arcade hit, and Atari spent a fortune on the rights to produce a game for E.T. So confident were they that the game would outsell anything else ever produced that they (apparently) produced more copies of the games than there were consoles! The game was a disaster, and Atari ended up destroying millions of copies of both games, along with a slew of other games they had 'over produced'.

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The American market turned its attention to the Colecovision, made by Coleco. Not only did it boast a number of almost arcade perfect games from Nintendo, Sega & Konami but it produced an adapter to allow Atari 2600 games to be played on the Coleco console. Atari fought back by releasing the 5200, which was an improvement on their 2600 and had superior sound and graphics capability. Unfortunately the machine didn't sell very well, and Atari announced poor sales resulting in a massive stock drop for Warner Communications, its parent company.

The advent of the Commodore 64 computer, a cheap powerful alternative to video games consoles sparked Coleco to reveal its new 'Adam' computer. The company piled all its money into production of the new machine, which was a very bad move as the machines were poorly made and over half were sent back with faults. Eventually Coleco went bust, the Colecovision disappeared into the ether, and its games went with it.

Nintendo had felt some of the impact of this as they had ported a few of their successful arcade games (Donkey Kong & Donkey Kong Jr) onto the Colecovision. But Nintendo had also decided that if they were going to release their own titles onto the home video game market, they would also produce the machines to play them on...

They started producing the Family Computer, or Famicom as it is better known, and it was released in Japan in 1983. Unfortunately, its early release wasn't without its problems. The 'console' (I use this term loosely, as it was initially released as a home computer) was produced in remarkably quick time, probably as an attempt to compete with Sega's third offering - the Sega Mark III, and as such the Famicom had a number of teething problems.

Nintendo noticed that their machine had done relatively well not as a home computer, but as a games console. They had ported the same games onto their new Famicom that disappeared with the Colecovision and this seemed to be the selling point of the new machine. Nintendo had initially signed a deal with Atari, which gave the American giant the sole rights to produce the Famicom outside of Japan. Unfortunately, in the aftermath of a insider trading scandal at Atari, the Nintendo deal fell through. But as one door closed another one opened!

1984 was the most disastrous year for the American Video Game market. MB had dropped the price of the Vectrex so much it was losing money on every console sold, eventually causing it to be scrapped. As previously mentioned the Colecovision disappeared without trace, and the Intellevision also bowed out after Mattel Electronics was shut down. Finally, after a series of game flops, poor console sales and other financial scandals, Warner sells off Atari. Its new owners announce they will no longer be selling video games consoles, only producing games.

All this left a massive hole in the market - one that Nintendo was very keen to plug. They had developed a new incarnation of the Famicom, solely for playing video games. Keen to get the console onto western shores they 'tested' the console in New York stores, promising to buy back any unsold machines from the now cautious retailers. Of course there weren't any unsold machines, and within a matter of weeks the new Nintendo Entertainment System was being sold Nationwide.

Such was the demand for the new console that shops could not keep up. This was a feat that even Atari hadn't managed to achieve. The American gamers had been waiting a long time for something new, something that offered better titles than what Atari had churned out and the Nintendo had it all. Helped along by an Italian Plumber named Mario, the Nintendo Entertainment System was the must have toy for the American Youth during 1984/85.

It was the fact that Nintendo was the first to get its foot in the door that helped it keep ahead of its competitors. By the time the Sega Master System came along, every other kid already owned a Nintendo, so everyone wanted to stick together and have the same as their friends. Even though the Master System was the better of the two machines, the general consensus was to go with the majority. And the majority had already chosen the NES.

Nintendo sensing they had the upper hand started to 'lock in' game developers. Everyone wanted to make games for the NES - they had the biggest market share so by that logic more units would be sold. Fine said Nintendo - make games for us. But only us. One by one big names were being tied into Nintendo America, which effectively gave them a Monopoly over the video games market. Eventually, they would be forced to relax these ties by the US Government, but by this time they had already won round one of the Nintendo vs Sega video games war!

However, this shouldn't detract away from the fact that the Nintendo was a truly amazing machine which gave birth to some of the best known characters and game franchises. Zelda, Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid & Megaman were all made household names on the NES, and Nintendo had set the standard against which all future games consoles would compete.

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Shinobi. It's Japanese for stealth, the perfect description of a Master Ninja. And that's exactly what you are! Armed with throwing stars and finely-honed battle skills, you must defeat the Ring of Five. Fight your way past mercenaries and karate thugs. Take out the meanest martial artists and rescue hostages. But these dangers pale in...

This is a US NTSC game and may only work on a US console or modded PAL console

The world is deep at war, and you're submerged among the enemy. Prepare to dive into Silent Service, the ultra realistic submarine simulation that recreates authentic World War II sea patrols in the bloody waters of the South Pacific.

Hello fellow humans! Bartholomew J. Simpson here, with a very important secret: Space Mutants are invading Springfield! A bunch of slimy, putrid monsters are taking over the bodies of the people and wanna build a weapon that's gonna take over the entire planet. Anyway, yours truly is the only one who can see them cause of my X-Ray specs - so...

Yo! When I heard I'd won the Krusty the Clown are contest, I said, 'Forget it, man. This is Bart Simpson you're talking to, and Bart Simpson never won anything in his life'. But Krusty said it, so there's no way to deny it. My family and I get to go on this really cool worldwide Treasure Hunt - to China, Egypt, the North Pole...

Congratulations! You're the next lucky contestant on the game show with the ultimate in prizes... YOUR LIFE! Sorry, no mindless blondes spinning your wheels here. Just deadly action, flying shrapnel, and total carnage - all in front of a live studio audience! Instead of picking vowels, you pick up 6 futuristic weapons like triple photon lasers and...

Its a race to the moon! But first you must travel through eleven levels of adventure. Hurtling anvils, exploding Nibbly Pibblys, flying carpets, ferocious 3D terrain, plus bigfoot and more! The action is non stop. The challenge is terrific. Help Rattle and Roll, the two snakes, make their way up the mountain. Gobble up Nibbly Pibblys to gain...

After his ironclad plan to rule the world rusted away, crazed Colonel Vernon CaTaffy went Psycho. Unfortunately your two best friends took the brunt of his frenzy and lost their fight to live. As nutty as ever, CaTaffy has sought asylum from the worlds premier bad guy - Highrolla Kockamamie. Grateful to this 'Rolla Radical' the Colonel...

Solar Jetman is on a one-man rescue mission to recover the most powerful spacecraft in the galaxy - The Golden Warpship. but first he must survive the 12 deadly alien worlds which hid the sabotaged vessel's parts, each with it's own legion of menacing obstacles. Devastating gravitational forces. Vicious alien armies. Paralyzing booby...

You and Dana the wizard of Lyrac must unlock Solomon’s scroll of secrets to restore peace in the constellations. With Dana’s magic, fire and mystical powers you will help release the imprisoned Princess of the Fairies and harness the evil forces within the constellations. But first you need the key!

The Quest for the Staff of Demnos. From out of the Darkness.Shall Arise a Challenge to your wisdom. Join Shadax's quest as he searches through the deadly fortress of Kastlerock for the six pieces of the magical Staff of Demnos, in a brave attempt to save Princess Eleanor from the evil magician Morbius.

Doctor Octopus is planning the crowning caper of his criminal career - To Rule The World! He has reunited the sinister six; Electra, Sandman, Mysteria, The Vulture and Hobgoblin. Nothing can stand in the way of these reunited Super Villains. except your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman!

As a player your mission is to penetrate the foreign embassy, obtain the top secret briefcase and leave in time to catch your private 'get-a-way' plane. players control their spy's every action as the zany agents in black and white search for the items needed to complete the mission.

Only the people who made the movie could bring you this much action and adventure. Control your favourite Star Wars heroes - Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia. Enlist the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO and R2-D2. Outfight and outsmart the intergalactic bad guys - storm troopers, Jawas, Banthas, bounty hunters, sinister droids and more....

The Stealth Advanced Tactical Fighter. America's most guarded military secret. And now you're in the cockpit, ready to unleash the explosive power of the F-117A on rival forces around the world. The mystery is over. And the enemy is toast.

After losing a confrontation against Super Commandos Mad Dog and Scorpion, the juices of destruction drip from the spiked tongue of the vile alien warmonger - Red Falcon. Now, he's coming back stronger than ever, with a sinister plan that includes having his intergalactic warriors seep into the brains of the U.S. Army. To support his...

This is a US NTSC game and may only work on a US console or modded PAL console.

Now you can really reach in and grab the action! Super Glove Ball bridges the gap between game and reality by giving you the sensation of real depth regardless of which controller you use. Throw, catch, punch, and swerve through a maze of rooms, progressing up spiraling skill levels towards your ultimate goal. Along the way you'll experience...

This is a US NTSC game and may only work on a US console or modded PAL console

Do you have what it takes to save the Mushroom Princess? You'll have to think fast and move even faster to complete this quest! The Mushroom Princess is being held captive by the evil Koopa tribe of turtles. It's up to you to rescue her from the clutches of the Koopa King before time runs out. But it won't be easy. To get to the...

his time it's a fierce action-packed battle to free the land of Subcon from the curse of the evil Wart. It's up to you, along with Mario, Luigi, Toad and the Princess to fight your way through bizarre multi-level worlds and find him! This time you've got a brand new kind of power - plucking power - and now anything you can find can...

Fight monsters and mini-bosses, avoid ghosts and the burning notes. Make your way through water and quicksand. Dodge cannon balls and bullets and rescue the kings wand! In Super Mario Bros 3 there are more warps, more chances at extra lives, and new special suits. The raccoon suit lets you fly and knock out blocks, the frog suit helps you out-...

Grab the wheel and hit the gas! For the first time ever, race up to four players simultaneously with Ivan 'Iron Man' Stewarts Super Off Road. Based on the #1 arcade game, this all-out dirt-grinding race is available for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Watch out for mud holes, jumps and other obstacles on the eight different stadium tracks, From...

Warm up with a few exercise games then face contenders in the American Circuit. For the ultimate challenge play against the best in the World Cup. Jump and block opponent's spikes, dive to dig a cross court spike, or set one up for a smash that only the best player can return. Kabooom!!

The struggle against the evil waiting you is gigantic. The firepower at your disposal is mega, but the price of total failure is annihilation. Battle through five worlds of darkness against awesome monsters, hidden rooms but keep half an eye open for the unexpected. The world of Turrican is very dangerous but exciting.